title: Longitudinal changes in macrophage migration inhibitory factor in breast milk during the first three months of lactation.
abstract: The presence of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in breast milk has been reported before, but its concentration at distinct phases of lactation has not yet been delineated. We have measured the MIF content in the aqueous phase of 63 milk samples from 21 mothers at postpartum days 5, 12 and 84 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MIF declined consistently from 44.5±40.3 ng/ml at day 5 to 20.3±12.9 ng/ml at day 84, but no similar trend was found in the ng/mg protein values. MIF may play a relevant role in the complex immunological interface between the mother and her infant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Gerontology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vigh
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bódis
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C515598:MIF protein, human